Affidavit: Diboll man was transporting $31,077 in drug money

During an ongoing drug investigation, Lufkin Police officers arrested a 20-year-old for allegedly transporting $31,077 in what is believed to have been drug money following a traffic stop on Kurth Drive on Wednesday.

Roman Castillo, of Diboll, was booked into the Angelina County Jail on a third-degree felony charge of money laundering. He posted an $8,000 bail and was released from jail Thursday.

According to the arrest affidavit, an LPD officer pulled Castillo over for making an illegal lane change, during the course of a drug investigation.

The officer arrested Castillo for driving without a license. His passenger was identified as a juvenile by his learner's permit.

A U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer and his K9 officer were called out to the scene, and the drug-sniffing dog "alerted" all around the vehicle, according to the arrest affidavit. Once they had probable cause, the law enforcement officers searched the Milan and found marijuana residue and a small plastic baggie with marijuana leaf designs on it.

The LPD officer also found the black backpack the investigator had seen in the trunk of the car. He found a tied-up plastic grocery sack under some clothes in the backpack, the affidavit stated. A large amount of cash was allegedly found in the grocery sack. Another $1,000 of rubber-banded U.S. currency was found between the center console and the passenger seat and $57 was found on Castillo, according to the affidavit.

The total amount of cash seized in the arrest was $31,077, the affidavit stated.